May. 5, 2015

Dr John Sutherland of University of Cambridge issues report offering his tested hypothesis that life on Earth may have emerged from chemicals that were present on the planet prior to existence of planet's first living cells; Sutherland's research grew from his discovery within last decade of chemical key to RNA, building block of living cells. MORE

Apr. 21, 2015

Some scientists are theorizing that dark matter in universe is underlying cause of number of earthly maladies, from cancer to extinction of dinosaurs; hypotheses give abstract and invisible phenomena concrete role in daily life. MORE

Apr. 7, 2015

Dennis Overbye Out There column offers appreciation for photographs captured by International Space Station; notes that they provide valuable perspective on Earth and its ability to support life. MORE

Apr. 5, 2015

Gray Matter column by physics and astronomy Prof Ray Jayawardhana explores the intimate physical connection between all forms of life on Earth, and indeed the planet itself, to the cosmos hovering just above the thin strip of atmosphere separating planet from the rest of the universe. MORE

Dec. 11, 2014

Study published in journal Science analyzes data from European Space Agency mission that traveled to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko; concludes water in Earth’s oceans probably did not come from melted comets, settling long-held debate; scientists shift their focus to asteroids as more likely source. MORE

Nov. 7, 2013

Research by a team of scientists is suggesting that Earth is vulnerable to asteroid strikes as often as every decade or two, elevating topic of planetary defense; findings appear in journal Nature; separate report on asteroid explosion over Russian city Chelyabinsk appears in journal Science. MORE

Oct. 8, 2013

Scientists are still struggling to reconstruct appearance of oxygen on the earth, which was oxygen-free for billions of years and is only planet know to have oxygen; recent research indicates that oxygen-rich atmosphere is result of complicated interaction of geology and biology. MORE

Sep. 17, 2013

Dr Steven Benner, master organic chemist and leading expert on origin of life, has suggested that based on available evidence, Mars might be more likely place for life to have started than Earth; Benner argues that best way to determine answer is to look for certain types of chemicals on both planets. MORE

Aug. 6, 2013

Dennis Overbye Out There column traces history of notion that life and elements on earth are composed of same matter as stars; draws connection between one of earth's lowliest life forms, the dung beetle, the exalted element gold and the greater cosmos. MORE

May. 19, 2013

Loose Ends column by author Bill Franzen describes best way to inform one's children of the inevitability that Earth will be destroyed by an asteroid. MORE

Sep. 18, 2012

Science Q&A on whether the melting of ice at the poles could affect the tilt and rotation of the Earth. MORE

May. 29, 2012

Dario Alfe study in journal Nature presents evidence that the Earth's iron core is releasing energy through conduction at two to three times the rate of previous estimates; findings upend the traditional model of the core, presenting far-reaching theoretical consequences. MORE

Apr. 3, 2012

Junjun Zhang study in journal Nature Geoscience finds that the Moon has an identical titanium composition to Earth, throwing doubt on a hypothesis that the Moon was created when an object the size of Mars collided with Earth. MORE

Feb. 14, 2012

Yale University geologists publish study in journal Nature describing evidence that North and South America will eventually fuse together with Asia to form a supercontinent in the Arctic Ocean; findings upend long-held notion that the supercontinent, referred to as Amasia, would form much closer to the equator. MORE

Jan. 24, 2012

Science Q&A on what will happen to the Earth and the other planets in our solar system as the sun dies. MORE

Aug. 30, 2011

Six studies published in journal Science report, among other findings, that most meteorites on Earth originate from stony S-type asteroids. MORE

As Earth Day approaches, Education Life asked: What makes this planet so remarkable? In response, NASA and the American Museum of Natural History looked to the stars; College of the Atlantic was more down to Earth. Test your knowledge.